Traction-vehicle.



- PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908. R. E. ZAGER. TRACTION VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1907. v

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l I I ll W/ T/VE SSE S WI/r6 ATTORNEYS No. 880,953. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908. R. E. ZAGER.

TRACTION VEHICLE.

PL 0 I N I D 1 AP I AT 0 1 LE MAY 0,1907 4SH TS SHE T 2 W/f/VESSES INVENTOH W y Z9 WITNESSES 72m? I PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908. R. E. ZAGER.

TRACTION VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED M 10 190 AY 7 4SHEBTS-SHEET a.

3 7 2664 25' If I BY R40 A TTORNEYS I PATENTED MAR. s, 1908. R. E. ZAGER.

TRACTION VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1907.

ATTORNEYS 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATS rorrie.

ROBERT E. ZAGER, OF BRANSCOMB, CALIFORNIA.

'rnAc'rron-vnnrcn z.

Specificationof Letters Patent. Application filed lfiay -10, 1907.

res nted March s, 1908. Serial No. 372,894.

and Improved Traction-Vehicle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de- .scri-ption.

My invention relates to improvements in traction vehicles, an object being to provide a vehicle of this class in which the vehicle body is mounted on a plurality of swivel .trucks which may be propelled singly or the 'body of collectively by a single engine. Y 4

Another object is to provide a novel steering gear whereby all the wheels may be simultaneously v swiveled without swiveling l the trucks, and whereby the trucks may be swiveled as well, if desired.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts as will be hereinafter fully-set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views] Figure 1 is a side elevation of the traction vehicle; Fig. 2 is a plan view with the bed of the vehicle removed; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the vehicle taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view .of one of the trucks employed in my traction vehicle; Fi 5 shows a cross section of the traction ve icle taken on line 55 of Fig. 6 showsa cross section of the traction vehicle taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 Fig. 7 represents a section of one of the trucks talgen online 7-7 of Fig. 6 and shows the positions of the wheels when turned with respect to the truck; and Fig. 8 isa, sectional view showing a detail ofone of the axles on which the wheels are mounted.

The frame of the traction vehicle is rectangular in form consisting of the side beams 10 and the end beams 11. A series of cross beams 12 connect and brace the side beams. On the frame a bed 13 is supported; The vehicle body is provided with a seat 14 and sides 15 which may be -of-. any desired form. At the forward end and covered by a casing 16 is a motor 17 used for propelling the ve- 'hicle.

As shown in the drawings; the vehicle bodyis su ported on two swivel trucks, hence, two olsters 19 are secured to the verear of the framea fifth wheel is secured to each bolster, while the lower members 21 of the fifth wheelsare carried by the truck bolsters 22. it

The front and rear trucks are of similar construction and the following description of one will apply equally as well to the other. The truck bolster 22 is supported at each end on a pair of opposite brackets 23 each bracket being formed with two downwardly I extending members 24. The lower end of each member 24 is provided with an opening 25 (Fig. 8) in which a sleeve 26 is swiveled on a vertical axis, being engaged by pin 27 fitted into the upper wall of the opening 25 and a set screw, 28,

jam nut 29 on the set screw serves to lock the set screw at the proper adjustment. J ournaled in each sleeve 26 is an axle 30, on the outer end of which a wheel 31 is rigidly mounted. collar 32 is secured on each axle 30 by a pin 33, and bears against the inner face of the sleeve.

Each member 24 is formed with a step 34 extending inwardly and to these steps a rectangular frame 35 is secured by screws 36. This frame is provided with a central'cross beam 37. Journaled' in the cross beam 37 and the bolster 22 is a g pin 38,- and swiveled on the king pin,

35 is a swivel frame 39.- which is preferably rectangular,

This frame 39, is narrower "and longer than the frame 35 and projects hicle frame respectively near the front and. The upper member 20 of v which is threaded 'through'the bottom of the member 24. A

within the frame v through slots in the end Walls 40 of the latter I frame. .The end walls of these slots serveas stops to limit the swiveling motion of the frame 39.

Journaled in the swivel frame 39 with their ends projecting through the side .members of saidframe', area pair of shafts 41. These shafts are so positioned that when the swivel frame 39"and the wheels 31 lie in normal parallel relation with frame 35, as shown in Fig. 4, the shafts will be in salinemer t respectively with the axles of the opo site wheels 31. Connected to each end of each shaft 41 by a universal joint, is a sleeve 42 provided with an angular bore43. sleeves are. adapted the inner ends of the axles 30 which are formed" with angular bores 43. The axles will thus be caused to rotate with the sleeves 42.; but will be free to slide endwise therein.

faces to fit into the.

The motor 17" which propels. the vehicleoperates to drive a main shaft 44, which'ex} tends the full length of the vehicle, being journaled in the end beams. 11 and cross beams 12. The method 'of applying the power of the main; shaft to the wheels is the same for both trucks, and hence, to avoid unnecessary duplication the following de' scription of said method will be confined to the mechanism of one of. the trucks. It should be clearly understood, however, that said mechanism is the same in each truck.

Mounted to slide on-the shaft 44 over the bolster 19, is a sleeve 45 which-is splined to the shaft 44; This sleeve carries two opposed bevel pinions 46, one at each side of a bevel gear 47 which is ournaled in the bolster 19. By movin the sleeve. on the shaft wheel 56 keyed to said 1n onedirection or t e other, one or otherof the bevel pinions may be brought into mesh with the gear,47, or the sleeve may be moved to such a position thatneither pinion engages the gear. The gear 47 is connected bya universal joint coupling48, with the king pin 38. Mounted on the king pin is a w rm 50, which meshes with a gear 51 keyed to a shaft 52. This shaft is journaled in the 'frame 39 and-keyed to the shaft is a sprocket A chain 54 connects the sprocket" wheel 53. wheel 53 with a sprocket wheel 55 keyed to the front shaft 41. I A second sprocket shaft is connected by a chain 57 to a sprocket wheel 58 keyed on the rear shaft 41. The transmission of power from the motor 17 to. the wheels 31 may now be readily traced. The shaft 44 turnsthe king pin through the medium'of e pinions 46, thebevel gears one of the bev 47, and the universal coupling 48; the king pintransmits the motion through the worm gear and the sprockets and chains to the two shafts 41, whi e these shafts convey the'mo- Mon through the universal joint couplings to the sleeves 42, which have sliding conmections with the axles 3Q on which the .wheels 31 are made fast.

1 The direction of rotation of the wheels 31 will depend upon which one ofthe pinions46 is moved into engagement with the bevel gear 47 ,and this is governed by a air of le. vers 59, and 60, which are locate iently near the operators seat 14, oneof the levers controlling the mechanism of the front truck, and the other the mechanism of the rear truck. The end of the lever '59 below itsfulcrumprojects through the bedof the vehicle and engages a bar 62 whichis mounted to slide longitudinally in bearings in two ofth'e cross beams 12. This bar carries an arm 63 which is formed with a yoke at the free end, which fits overa reduced portion 64 of'the front sleeve 45. Similarly the lower 7 end of the lever 60 is connected to a bar 65,

which extends I ast thejrear sleeve 45 and is mounted to slid e longitudinally in the cross beams 12. This bar. carries an arm 66', formed with atyoke which fits'over the re; duced portion 64 of the rear sleeve 45. Each operating lever has three positions controlling the action of its respective truck, one.

'for forward propulsion, another for reversing, and a third or intermediate position for disconnecting the driving vmechanism of the trucks from the .motor, these being all secured by varying the relations of the bevel pinions 46 with respect to the bevel gear 47.

As the driving mechanism of the two trucks is separately controllable by the levers, either one, or both of the trucks, may be coupled to 1 the motor, as may be desired.

The steering mechanism of, the traction vehicle is driven by the main shaft 44 under control of a lever 67 located near the seat 14.

Splined to the. shaft 44 near the center of the 4 vehicle, is a sleeve 68 which carries a pair of opposed bevel'pinions 69. Connected to the lower end of the steering lever 67 is a bar 70 which is mounted to slide longitudinally in is journaled at its upper end in a cross beam i 74, secured to the side beams 10, while its lower end has bearing in a U-shaped bracket which is fastened to the cross beam 74. Secured'on this shaft is a worm 76'which engages a worm wheel 77 mounted on a shaft 78. The latter is journaled in brackets 79, secured to the frame members 10. Two ropes 80 are wound aroundthe shaft 78 'at opposite sides of the worm wheel 77.

. swivel frame 39 at the right hand side there'- of, while the other .end of the same rope ex- One 1 end of the rope 80 which lies at the right tends to the rear truck and is attached to the right hand side of the rear swivel frame 39.

Similarly, the other rope 80 is connected at opposite-ends respectively to the front and thereof. The rope-s are so wound that when l the shaft is turned-in one direction awn-1 be v on the forward length of the.

rear swivel frames39 at the left hand side length of theleft hand rope while winding up the rear length, and vice versa'. If now, it be desired'to turn the vehicle, say to the left, the o erator will throw the lever 67 to bring the. esired pinion 69 into engagement with the gear72, thus transmitt ng rotary power to the shaft 78 and causing it to wind up the forw ardlength of the right handrope I forward ends turning toward the right. The

- king pin revolubly na ed to said truck frame and having swiveled together by a universal j oint, one of said mema for starting, stopping and reversing the rotation of said king pin, and driving mechanism actress 80, and therear length of the left-hand rope. I This will causethe frames 39 to swivel, their shafts 41 being swung with the swivel frames 39, will move the sleeves 42 on the right hand side toward the rear, and those at the left hand side toward the front. The axles 30 will thus be swiveled, causing the wheels to turn toward the left as shown in Fig. 7. The sliding connections provided between the sleeves 42 and the shafts 30 will permit the latter to adjust themselves to their abnormal position.

As stated above, the end wallsof the slots in the members 40'of the frames 35 limit theextent to which the frames 39 may be turned. If, after this limit is reached, the shaft 78 continues to revolve, the frame 39 hearing against the limiting walls of the slots will cause the frames 35 to turn, thus swiveling the entire trucks and permitting the vehicle to make a sharper turn. It will be evident that the swiveling, either of the frames 35 or of the frames 39, not interfere with the transmission of p0wer-to the wheels 31, because this transmission is effected, through the king pins 38 on which these frames are pivoted. The universal joint coupling 48 which connects the gears 47 with the king pins 38, allows for all tiltingof the trucks due to irregularities in the roadbed.

Having thus described my' invention, 1. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a traction vehicle, a main frame, a connected thereto, a truck frame swiveled on said king-pin and supportin' said main frame, traction. wheels jour' connection therewith, means for swiveling said wheels with respect to said truck frame, a prime mover on said main frame, a power shaft journaled in said main frame and adapted to be driven by said prime mover, transmission mechanism connected with said ower shaft for driving said king pin, means for transmitting the motion of said king pin to said traction wheels. V

2. In a traction vehicle, a main frame, a king pin comprising two members connected bers being journaled in said main frame, a truck frame swiveled on the other of said members and supporting said main frame, traction wheels journaled to said truck frame and having swiveled connection therewith, means for swiveling said wheels with respect to said truck frame, a prime'mover carried on said main frame, transmission mechanism connecting said prime mover with said king pin, and transmission mechanism connecting said king pin with said wheels.

. able pins at any 3. lln a traction vehicle, a main frame, a

king pin revolubly truck'frame swiveled on said king pin and supporting said main frame, j ournaled to said truck frame and having swiveled connection therewith, a prime mover on said main frame, a power shaft journaled in said main frame, transmission mechanism connected with said power shaft for driving said king pin, means for starting, stopping, and reversing the rotation of said king pin, driving mechanism tion of said king pin mechanism actuated by said adapted initially to swivel said wheels with respect to said truck frame and thereafter to swivel said truckframe with respect to said main frame, and means for starting, stopping, and reversing said steering mechanism. s

4. In a traction vehicle, a truck frame, journal sleeves swiveled therein, axles journaled in these sleeves, traction wheels se- -cured on'said axles, collars secured on said axles to hold the latter in said journals, a steering frame mounted to swivel in said truck frame, drive-shafts journaled in said steering frame, coupling sleeves cou universaljoints with the ends of sai to said wheels, steering drive .shafts, said coupling sleeves being formed said axles being formed,

with angular bores,

for transmitting the 1110-.

power shaft and led by connected therewith, a

traction wheels with angular shanks adapted to slide in said bores and enga e said coupling sleeves, and means for swive ing said steering frame so as to turn said wheels at angles with said truck frame.

5. In a traction vehicle, a truck frame, formed with openings at opposite sides thereof, a fixed pin in each openlng, pin in eac opening in opposed relationfto said fixed pin, means for locking said adjustdesired adjustment, a sleeve an adjustable in each'opening, swiveled between the fixed pin and the adjustable journaled in each sleeve,

cured on the outer end of each axle, a collar pin therein, an axle a traction wheeLseiic secured on each axle, said collars bearing 4 respectively against the inner faces of said sleeves, each axle bein wardly-extending angu ar shank, a steering frame, a shaft mounted in said steering frame between each pair of opposed axles, a coupling sleeve on each end of each shaft and connected thereto by a universal oint, each coupling sleeve being formed with an angular bore adapted to receive in sliding engagement said angular shank of an adjacent axle, means for driving said shafts, and means for swiveling said steering frame.

6. In a traction vehicle, a truck frame, journal sleeves mounted to swivel in said frame, axles mounted to rotate in said journal formed with an insleeves, traction wheels secured on said.

axles, a steering frame, shafts supported in said steering frame and respectively connected at opposite ends with said axles, a

kingpin journaled in said truckframe, said steering frame being mounted to swivel .on said king 'pin between limits on said truck frame, transmission gearing connecting said.

shaft with saidking pin, avehicle body supported on said truck frame and pivoted on frame, a frame an after sai motor, a transmission mechanism in connection with said power shaft for driving or,

reversing the rotation of said king pin or for disconnecting said king pin from said power shaft, and means for swiveling said steering frame sothat initially said wheels will swing to an an le with said truck frame and theretruck frame will be swiveled to an angle with said vehicle body. 7 In a traction vehicle, a main frame, a pair of revoluble king pins connected with said frame, a truck frame swiveled on each kingpin, said truck frame supporting said main frame, a motor supported ,on said main ower shaft journaled in said main 5 driven by said motor, a separate transmission mechanism connected with said power shaft for driving each of said king pins, means for starting, stopping and reversing the rotation of each king pin, 'a steerin frame mounted on each king pin and adapte as es to swivel between stops on the adjacent truck frame, drive-shafts journaled in each steerin frame, transmission gearing connect:

ing eac king pin with the drive-shafts in the adjacent steering H frame, journal sleeves ing couplings connecting said axles withv said drive-shafts, a steering shaft journaled 1n sald'maln frame, transmission mechanism connecting said power shaft with said steering shaft, means for startin stopping and reversing the rotation of sai' steering shaft,

3 a winding shaft journaled in said main frame, transmission gearing connecting said winding v shaft with said steerin shaft, and cables corinected 'with said steering frames and wound 'onsaid winding-shaft in such manner that when the latter is turned said steering frames will be swiveled in opposite directions.

' In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses. f i

I ROBERT E. 'ZAGER. Witnesses; a

T. A. KEIMBALL, T; H. SMITH. 

